Young Fruitgrower

2010 Winner Announced

On Saturday the 5th of July Jonathon Newby was pronounced winner of the 2010 Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition.

Jonathan will compete in the National Young Fruitgrower competition at the HortNZ conference in August. Should he be successful, he will them compete in the Young Grower of the Year competition.

Second Place at the HB Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition went to Jamie Kershaw.

Third Place at the HB Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition went to Michael Copp.

The Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition tests the skills of Hawke’s Bay’s finest young fruitgrowers.  Contestants are put through their paces in a grueling competition that starts early in the morning and goes on well into the evening.  The competition is divided in to two sections.

Practical Session:

Thursday 3rd of June 2010, Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds

Contestants are tested on their day-to-day fruitgrowing knowledge such as mechanical know-how, health and safety protocols, pest and disease control, fruit quality assessments and implications and labour requirements.

It is a demanding day where the competitors must concentrate on the tasks at hand and where each judge is looking for different skills and qualities. This session is held at the ICE Expo.

Speech Competition and General Knowledge Quiz:

Saturday 5th of June 2010, Hawke’s Bay Opera House

For the evening event the contestants leave their coats and boots at home and dress for the more formal HB Young Fruitgrower of the Year Speech competition.

This is a fantastic evening of good food, great wine and wonderful entertainment; our Young Fruitgrowers are very able orators. The contestants are each given three minutes to shine.  They each have a different speech topic and it is notable that the standard of the speeches has increased year on year.

Last year’s Judges, National MP Craig Foss and Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Murray Douglas, were more than impressed with the way the contestants handled difficult and at times controversial topics. This session is held at the stunning Hawke’s Bay Opera House, a venue fitting of the occasion.

Winner of the 2009 Competition:

Kevin McInnes, at just 20 years of age, became the youngest ever winner of the HB Fruitgrowers’ Association Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition.

Kevin followed this up just a couple of weeks later by taking out both the National Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition and the National Young Grower of the Year competition where he competed against vegetable growers as well.

We at the HBFA are understandably very proud of Kevin’s achievements so far.